Tunnel form



Feb. 27, 1962 D. c. CARD 3,022,562

TUNNEL FORM Filed. April 7, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mum IN VEN TOR. DAVI D C. CARD ATTORNEYS D. C. CARD TUNNEL FORM Feb. 27, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7, 1960 Ila FIG. 3

INVENTOR DAVID C. CARD D. C. CARD TUNNEL FORM Feb. 27, 1962 s Shets-Sheet 3 Filed April 7, 1960 II llll'll'll INVENTOR.

DAVID C. CAR D ilwa mm ljy ATTORNEYS 3,922,562 Patented Feb. 27, 1%62 3,022,562 TUNNEL FGRM David C. Card, Denver, Colo., assignor to C. S. Card Iron Works Co., Denver, Colo., a corporation of Colorado Filed Apr. 7, 1960, Sex. No. 20,737 6 Claims. (Cl. 25131.6)

This invention is directed to improved apparatus for in situ use in forming concrete linings for tunnels, culverts, and the like. It relates particularly to multiple sectioned lining forms which are arranged to be collapsed and transported to operating locations. V The apparatus normally used in the lining of tunnels is necessarily bulky and heavy in order to support the loads which are encountered in such operations. Also, it is necessary that the apparatus be compact since the space in which the forms and apparatus are to be manipulated is limited. Further, the apparatus must be capable of rather precise flignment with previously poured sections. Prior art devices have had various systems for accomplishing the desired positionment such as hand cranks, turn buckles, screw threads and the like. These systems have proven slow, required substantial manual labor, and have not provided complete directional control of such forms.

My invention provides apparatus for quickly, easily and precisely aligning and positioning tunnel forms by a novel and simple combination of elements while increasing mobility and speed of operation. In this alignment and positionment of the tunnel forms, my apparatus will elevate, horizontally move, and cant the forms to achieve the desired attitude regardless of the angle or slope of the tunnel floor which the carrier equipment traverses, In an alternative 'arrangement l also provide a construction whereby it is possible to move collapsed forms between those already in place in the lining operation and beyond any prepared floor pad;

it is, therefore, an obiect of this invention to provide novel apparatus for simply and easily positioning a tunnel form with a combination of vertical, horizontal and canting movements within a tunnel; to provide simplified means for positioning a collapsible, multiple sectioned tunnel form equipment; and to provide a combi nation of supporting apparatus for the forms which is capable of being moved in a collapsed condition through forms already in use for subsequent assembly adjacent them.

Still further objects will become obvious to those skilled in the art from the description hereinafter set forth with reference to the appended exemplary drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation view of tunnel form apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

.FIG. 3 is an end elevation, in partial cross-section, of a modified tunnel form apparatus; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal side elevation, in partial crosssection, of another alternative arrangement according to my invention.

Before describing the drawings in detail, I wish it understood that I do not wish to be limited by the particular design and description hereinafter set forth but rather by the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, which is illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, there is shown a tunnel 5 having along the floor thereof a bed 4 for supporting tracks 1. The tracks or rails 1 provide means for movement of men, equipment and material on wheeled mechanisms. 'Conventional railway wheels 2 are commonly used for such mechanisms. In the drawings, the wheels 2 are shown as supporting a frame or truck 3 upon which is mounted an elevating mechanism which is inclusive of a body and hydraulic motor 56 and lower piston rod 31. Horizontally disposed in the upper portion of a second hydraulic motor 6 is a hydraulic motor 7 inclusive of a piston and rod 3 arranged for delivering a power stroke in a substantially horizontal direction. Operatively associated with the hydraulic motor 6 is piston 51 which is mounted on the upper surface of the hydraulic motor 59.

Pivotally secured to the end of the rod 3 by a pin 10 is a body 9 slidably disposed on the motor 7. Referring for the moment to FIG. 2, the body 9 is registered in the slots 40 and 41 of the upper surface of the motor 7. Thus, reciprocating motion induced in the rod 8 by the hydraulic motor '7 causes a horizontal movement of the body 9, parallel to the upper surface of the hydraulic motor 6. Pivotally secured to one end of the body 9 is an upper form supporting member 110. At the other end of the member is a pivot pin 14 engaging the power stroke extension of hydraulic motor 13. Motor 13 is secured at its lower end to the body at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 12. Substantially centrally of the upper surface of the supporting member 110 is a form brace 11b which may be made of an I beam or the like. The upper form member 11a is secured to the top of the form brace 11]) by suitable, temporary connecting means such as bolts 11d. Side form members 21' and 21 are pivotally secured to the upper form member 11a at the respectively opposite edges thereof. The means of interconnection may be any suitable pivotal connections such as the pins 22 and 23. Spaced downwardly of the connections 22 and 23 are additional pivotal connections 26 and 25 which secure hydraulic cylinders 27 and 28 to the side form members. The piston rods 27' and 28 of the cylinders 27 and 28 are secured at their respective inboard ends to pivotal connections 39 and 29, respectively, on the lower piston rod extension 31 of the hydraulic motor 56.

By the foregoing arrangement of parts it is possible to horizontally and vertically move the tunnel form sections 21 21 and 11a as required as well as canting them during the horizontal or vertical movement. The interaction of the respective parts by such movements is as follows. The hydraulic motors 6 and 56 provide up and down movement to the piston rods 51 and 31. If the motion is upwardly directed, the rod 31 will rise causing movement of the hydraulic motors 27 and 28 connected thereto. With the upward movement of those portions, the piston rod 51 will raise the body of the hydraulic motor 6 and the elements associated therewith. After, or during, this upward or downward positionment, it is possible to have a laterally directed movement of the tunnel forms by the hydraulic motor 7 sliding the body 9 along the slots 41 and 423. After the desired horizontal and lateral motion has been accomplished, the hydraulic motor 13 may be used to cant the upper form lid while inducing compatible movement in the side forms 29 and 21. This canting action provides movement of the form for squaring it in relation to a true vertical line regardless of the slope of the tracks. The foregoing movements by all the hydraulic motors may be carried out relatively simultaneously if such is desired by suitable controls, not shown.

Normally in operation, the upper form 11a is positioned at its desired location and thereafter the side forms, through their side hydraulic motors 27 and 28, are positioned adjacent the sides of the tunnel to provide the configuration for pouring or pumping of concrete. Since the side form parts are connected to the top form, initial placement of the top simplifies positioning of the remain the space between the forms and the tunnel walls.

the foregoing positioning of the forms and bracing of the aoeaesa der, whether there are two side parts or more as in other types of forms.

' 1G. 3 shows the tunnel form Sections 2d, 21 and 11a as'they might be in their final position in a tunnel 5. in this form, a pair of I beam supports 11b are used to. temporarily secure the upper form member to supporting mechanism. After the forms are positioned, as isgenerally indicated in FIG. 3, it may be necessary to position bracing or the like across the'bottom of the tunnel. The bracing would normally be positioned between the ends 2%) and 21' and the bed 4. The bracing would also serve to prevent the down flow of concrete being pumped into After bottom, fluid cement lining material is suitably forced into the space between the tunnel Wall and the forms. The dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 3 are generally indicative of various intermediate form positions possible by suitable manipulation of the various hydraulic mechanisms described above.

FIG. 4 is an alternative arrangement of the apparatus. The mechanism which is used for lateral, horiaontal and canting movement of the various tunnel form sections is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and has been indicated by similar reference numerals, i.e., hydraulic motor 5%, piston rod 51, upper hydraulic motor and body 6, support means 11c, etc. On the support form. 110 is a 'form brace 42 similar in function to the brace 11b of FIGS. 1 and 3. Associated with the form brace 42 are ribs orsupports41 of an upper form member 40. Side form members 40' are pivotally secured to the upper form member 40 in a manner similar to that of form members 11a, 26 and 21 of FIGS. 1-3. The foregoing is supported i onla frame 3' similar to the frame 3 of FIGS. 1-3. The

' 46 are shown as supported on the tunnel floor itself;

With the use of my alternative arrangement it is possible tofpour a substantially complete tubular form in a tunnel or culvert by suspending additional bottom form members 49 from the side form membersdt) in a manner similar to the connection between side members 20 and 21 and top member 11a.

/ With proper use of the jacks 48 and 48 it is possible to position the bed 43 in a substantially horizontal attitude even when it is necessary to lay the tracks 46 directly on unfinished tunnel floor. After having used the jacks 4'8 and 48 to achieve the desired substantially horizontal positionment of the beds 43, the system of hydraulic motors and pivotal interconnections similar to those described and still accomplish a leveling of the form structure by the such as the rails I and wheels 2' or the bed 43. Vertical before are used to position and align the tunnel forms into place. In FIG. 4 I have shown apreviously poured tunnel lining 5? against which a portion of the upper surface of the form 40 is positioned. Before the pouring of concrete, 7

it is necessary to provide a dam or similar enclosing means at the open end between the tunnel 5 and'the upper form 40 generally indicated by reference character 49a.

Oneof the features of the alternative embodiment shown in PEG. 4 is that after a system of forms have beenpositioned and braced, it is possible to remove the positioning structure by removing the holding means, such as the bolts 11d, and rolling the bed 43 and its supporting structure out from under the positioned forms. After the bed and supporting structure have been removed, it is possible to fold additional forms over the beds 43 and move such through the previously positioned and braced form beyond thepreviously poured bed such as pad 47. That i's',it is possible to lay tracks 46 beyond a finished concrete bed movement of the tunnel forms initiated by themotors 6 and 5t} and their associated piston rods 51 and 31. Commensurate therewith or immediately thereafter a horizontal and/or canting positioning of the upper tunnel form is provided as may be necessary bythe use of such as hydraulic meters 7 and 13 through their respective pivotal interconnections. The accomplishment of the precise finished positioning of the tunnel form relative to other forms or portions of the tunnel lining is realized by the use of various surveying techniques. After having accomplished a satisfactory alignment of the upper tunnel form 11a, the hydraulic motors 27 and 28 position the vertical side forms 20 and 21. After the proper positionment has been accomplished the concrete or other tunnel lining materials may be forced into the. void between the tunnel forms 1111,10 and 21 and the tunnel wall 5. In the case of the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 there is a similar positioriment after which the lower forms 49 are also'positioned. If it is desired thereafter before the concrete has set in the previously poured section to pour additionalsectiongthe bed 43 may beused to support an end of additional sections. Thereafter the folded section will be moved through the previously assembled forms and the jacks 48 and 48' used to horizontally position the bed 43; After the'foregoing the tunnel forms are positioned as previously described and concrete may then be poured.

. It is thus readily apparent thatmany changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope'of the invention. For example, tunneling equipment is frequently mounted on rubber tired vehicles, thus eliminating the use. of rails and rail beds. The equipment of the invention is, obviously, mountable on such rubber or pneumatic tired vehicles or trucks. Also, in certain instances it frnay be desirable to have the frame units move vertically as'a unit, in which case a single hydraulic motor 50 may be" used with piston rods 51 and 31 interconnected thereto.' Thus a body mounted on rod 51 in place of the motor-6 would cone jointly move vertically with the pistonrod 31 and the connections 29 and 30 for the wing motors 2.7 and 28. The invention-is not, therefore, to be considered aslimited to the specific construction hereinbefore set' forth. 7

It is thus readily obvious that many changes may be made in the detailsof construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and the invention is not, therefore, to be considered as limited to the specific construction.hereinbefore set forth. 7

Therefore, having'described my invention and its operation, what I desire to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the following claims.

.1 claim:

1. Apparatus for tunnel lining comprising a mobile carriage arranged for movement along a tunnel, a pair er upper frame members on said carriage, elevating means'interconnecting said carriage and said upper frame members and arranged to move said upper frames along a generally upright path toward and away from said carriage, support members mounted on said upper frame members, a form supportsecured by pivot means toeach said support member, extensible means spaced a substantial distance from said pivot means interconnecting each said support member and its adjacent form support for imparting pivotal movement of said form support about said pivot means, an upper mold form mounted on said form support, at least one side form hinged to said upper mold form adiacent'each side edge thereof and cooper- U atively arranged to provide with said upper mold form at least a substantial portion of a tunnel form, extensible means interconnecting said side forms to said carriage for selective lateral movement thereof, whereby pivotal movement of said form support cants the mold form relative to a vertical plane.

2. Apparatus for tunnel lining comprising a mobile carriage arranged for movement along a tunnel, a pair of upper frame members on said carriage, spaced apart elevating means interconnecting said carriage and said upper frame members and arranged to individually move said upper frames along a generally upright path toward and away from said carriage, a support member mounted on each said upper frame member, extensible means interconnecting each said upper frame member and said support member for reciprocal movement of the same in a path generally horizontally and laterally of said carriage, a form support secured by pivot means to each said support member, extensible means spaced a substantial distance from each said pivot means interconnecting each said support member and its adjacent form support for imparting pivotal movement of said form support about said pivot means, an upper mold form mounted on said form support, at least one side form hinged to said upper mold form adjacent each side edge thereof and cooperatively arranged to provide with said upper mold form a substantially tubular form, extensible means interconnecting said side forms to said carriage for selective lateral movement thereof, whereby pivotal movement of said form support cants the mold form relative to a vertical plane.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said extensible means interconnecting each said upper frame member and said support member are arranged for independent movement.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which each said pivot means for said form supports and said support members is normally spaced from a vertical plane of symmetry through said elevating means.

5. Apparatus for tunnel lining comprising mobile carriage means arranged for movement along a tunnel, spaced apart upper frame members mounted above said carriage, a pair of spaced elevating means inter-connecting said carriage means and said upper frame members and arranged to independently provide movement of said 1 upper frames along a generally upright path toward and away from said carriage means, support members mounted on each said upper frame member, extensible means inter-connecting said upper frame members and said support members for providing independent reciprocal movement of the same in a path generally horizontally and laterally of said carriage means, a form support secured by pivot means to each said support member, extensible means spaced a substantial distance from each said pivot means inter-connecting each said support member and its adjacent form support for imparting pivotal movement of said form support about said pivot means independent of the reciprocal movement of said support members, an upper mold form mounted on said form support, at least one side form hinged to said upper mold form adjacent each side thereof and cooperatively arranged to provide with said upper mold form a substantial portion of a tunnel form, extensible means interconnecting said side forms to said carriage for selective lateral movement thereof, whereby pivotal movement of said form support cants the mold form relative to a vertical plane.

6. Apparatus for tunnel lining comprising mobile carriage means arranged for movement along a tunnel inclusive of a main frame mounted on a pair of spaced apart wheeled trucks, each said wheeled truck including elevating means for independently moving the wheels thereof toward and away from said main frame, a pair of upper frame members mounted above said carriage, elevating means interconnecting said carriage means and said upper frame members and arranged to move said upper frame members toward and away from said carriage means, support members mounted on said upper frame members, extensible means interconnecting said upper frame members and said support members for reciprocal movement of the same in a path generally horizontally and laterally of said carriage means, a form support secured by pivot means to each said support member, extensible means spaced a substantial distance from each said pivot means interconnecting each said support member and its adjacent form support for imparting pivotal movement of said form about said pivot means, an upper mold form mounted on said form support, at least one side form hinged to said upper mold form adjacent each side edge thereof and cooperatively arranged to provide with said upper mold form a substantial portion of a tunnel form, extensible means interconnecting said side forms to said carriage for selective lateral movement thereof, said wheeled trucks being positioned beyond the longitudinal extent of said upper and side mold forms, whereby pivotal movement of said form support cants the mold form relative to a vertical plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,134,543 McArthur Apr. 6, 1915 1,252,093 Davidson Jan. 1, 1918 2,486,801 Sarosdy Nov. 1, 1949 

